Question about the scales

MOR_Lio · #1 02-02-2005, 04:25 PM

Hi everyone,

I am starting to learn the different scales, and to do so I started with the Major Scale. Rigt now I am working on the Major Scale C. But on are there as many major scale as there are notes? I mean, I have heard about the Major G, but is there also the Majors A,B,D,E,F?? And what about the F#, B#, C#...etc?

Turock · #2 02-02-2005, 10:23 PM

stephanie · #3 02-03-2005, 01:29 AM

Hi MOR_Lio,

Well, let's familiarize yourself with how a major scale is formed:

A scale is constructed by a series of half and whole steps. For a major scale it would go: whole - whole - half - whole - whole- whole - half. So you can start on any note (C...G...F#..whatever) and use that pattern and you will have your scale.

So...

C Major = C D E F G A B C
G Major = G A B C D E F# G
F# Major - F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#

There are 15 major scales (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb). You will come across scales, for example like F# Major/Gb major. These are enharmonics (sound the same but spelled differently. You'd be using F# going around the Circle of 5ths, Gb going the other way using the Circle of 4ths, but more on that later...).

So maybe for now you might want to figure out how they are all constructed.

Hope this helps.

MOR_Lio · #4 02-03-2005, 09:00 AM

Thanks a lot for this valuable help! I am wanting to learn the scales, but I am aware that it represents a lot of work. I think I am already going to spend a lot of time learning the Major...
But I guess it is worth it.

PS:"The eyes without face", interesting phrase... and in French(==>my native language

)

Lyle Caldwell · #5 02-03-2005, 11:10 AM

Dude,
On bass, once you learn a scale in one key, meaning that you learn it without using open strings, you know that scale in every key. Just start from a different fret.

For instance, you're learning C Major. The root note, C, is the third fret on the A string. Move your hand two frets up so that you play the same pattern starting on the D (5th fret on A string). Now you're playing D Major.

GSPLBASSDC · #6 02-03-2005, 11:19 AM

A pattern for major scales that my first bass coach taught me is this:

Start with any root note and let your fingers lay over 4 successive frets on the fretboard. Your ifingering is 2 - 4 (where your index finger is 1 and your pinky is 4). Move to the next string and it's 1 - 2 - 4. Move to the third string, and it's 1 - 3 - 4.

That's "the pattern"

bluemeanies · #7 02-03-2005, 01:36 PM

Hmmmmmm I would not like you to forget the minor scales aswell.... (i personally like them better)

Ed Fuqua · #8 02-03-2005, 02:34 PM

Go here.

**Pacman** · #9 02-03-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyle Caldwell

Dude,
On bass, once you learn a scale in one key, meaning that you learn it without using open strings, you know that scale in every key. Just start from a different fret.

For instance, you're learning C Major. The root note, C, is the third fret on the A string. Move your hand two frets up so that you play the same pattern starting on the D (5th fret on A string). Now you're playing D Major.

While this is true, it is also the path to the dark side. It encourages you to NOT know what it is that you're playing, other than a pattern. It's easy at first, frustrating later. Trust me on this.

jadesmar · #10 02-04-2005, 07:31 AM

Beginning Scales - using code tags to preserve formatting.

Code:

To start, these are the notes on a 5-string fretboard in the key of C.

Notice:
Everything repeats 12 frets higher.

G +-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+---+
D +-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+
A +-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+
E +-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+
B +-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+
    0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

Grabbing a section from C to (shining) C we can view how a major scale is 
constructed. My first inclination is to grab a section from the B string, 
however, to avoid alienating the 4-string players, I will use the A string.

G +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
D +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
A +---+---+---+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+-F-+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+---+
E +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
B +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

Since 2 frets represents a whole tone and 1 fret is equivalent to a semi-tone,
the major scale is constructed using these steps:

	in tones between notes: W - W - H - W - W - W - H
	by frets between notes: 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1

Using this model, we can construct major scales starting in any of the 12
remaining keys. For example, to construct a G-major, we start on G and move
through our pattern.

G +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
D +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
A +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
E +---+---+---+-G-+---+-X-+---+-X-+-X-+---+-X-+---+-X-+---+-X-+-X-+---+---+
B +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

We now use our knowledge of the fretboard (or a chart) to fill out the 
note names.

G +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
D +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
A +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
E +---+---+---+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+---+
B +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
    0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

And back to our chart, we can use these notes to populate the entire fretboard.

G +-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+---+
D +-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+
A +-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+
E +-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+
B +-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+---+-F#+-G-+---+-A-+---+-B-+-C-+---+-D-+---+-E-+
    0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

The remaining 10 major scales are left as an excercise for the reader.

Kevjmyers · #11 02-04-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

While this is true, it is also the path to the dark side. It encourages you to NOT know what it is that you're playing, other than a pattern. It's easy at first, frustrating later. Trust me on this.

Patterns...BAD
Fretboard knowledge...GOOD

haythamehab · #12 02-04-2005, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemeanies

Hmmmmmm I would not like you to forget the minor scales aswell.... (i personally like them better)

They wouldn't have existed if the major weren't there

Lyle Caldwell · #13 02-04-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

While this is true, it is also the path to the dark side. It encourages you to NOT know what it is that you're playing, other than a pattern. It's easy at first, frustrating later. Trust me on this.

Oh, I agree, long term. But there's nothing like that first rush of excitement when that concept "clicks" and the whole neck begins to open up.

When teaching someone (not that I am a regular instructor) I start with the "patterns" to make the neck less intimidating, but over the long term, I focus on intervals, not patterns.